#andrewsmith keepyaweird keepyakind grasshopperjungle thealexcrow

[iambraiden-blog]

A few hours ago I sent an email to ‪#‎AndrewSmith‬. I'm not sure if he would even be looking at his emails. So I thought I'd share what I wrote here:

I miss your presence.

You inspire me to be better, to believe in myself, to believe that my writing is worthwhile.

It wasn't until I read the Marbury Lens at the end of 2010, the first book I read of yours, that I realised there was something seriously missing in young adult fiction: content that challenged teenage readers beyond what was just strictly there on the page. You showed me through your stories that not conforming to society's standards was okay, that I could write whatever I wanted, write whatever stories I wanted to tell.

To not let anyone dictate what I can or cannot write, can or cannot think, can or cannot say.

From then on I've looked up to you, respected you, seen you as a guardian for the type of work you produced.

And I still do.

You've never let me down with your stories.

I hope that doesn't stop.

I believe in you and your work.

Regards,

Braiden